1. Unit 15: Stative Passive & Reporting Passive
Review Session
Unit 15: Stative Passive & Reporting Passive

2. Review: Stative Passive
Describes situations or state of beings
There is usually no action taking place
Be + past participle + preposition
Past participle is like an adjective
Don’t usually have an active sentence form
Don’t usually have a by agent
Exceptions: connect and surround
A peninsula is surrounded (by water) on three sides.
The people are related to each other.
Walnut is located in California.

3. Review: Reporting Passive
Report ideas, beliefs, or opinions
2 Forms:
It + be + past participle + (that) clause
Subject + be + past participle + infinitive
In reporting passive, the it is unknown
Usually have active sentence form
Optional by agent

4. Review: Reporting Passive
It + be + past participle + (that clause)
Reporting Passive
It is said (that) this culture is very old.
Reporting Passive with by agent
It is said (by people) (that) this culture is very old.
Active Voice Form
People say this culture is very old.

5. Review: Reporting Passive
Subject + be + past participle + to phrase (infinitive)
Reporting Passive
He is thought to be the author.
Reporting Passive with by agent
He is thought (by scholars) to be the author.
Active Voice Form
Scholars think he is the author.

6. About That
Remember, that is optional and often omitted in informal English.
Ideas: It is reported (that) the Nacirema actually insert into their mouths a stick covered with magical paste.
Beliefs: It is also believed (that) the secret to getting rid of these devils is to talk about them.
Opinions: It is assumed (that) this culture is very old.
Some verbs can’t be followed by a that clause like regard:
It is regarded (that) these people came from Asia.

7. Note: The verb Consider
Native Americans are considered to be the real discoverers.
Native Americans are considered the real discoverers.
Both - consider can take an infinitive or it can be omitted.

8. Note : The verb Regard Verb: Regard
Columbus is regarded as the discoverer of America.
Columbus is regarded the discoverer of America.
The first one – regard is followed by as + noun clause

9. Exercise 1
For each of the ones you highlighted, let’s label them Stative Passive or Reporting Passive
Was known – reporting
Is believed – reporting
Is owned – stative
Is thought – reporting
Is related – stative
Was said – reporting
Is not connected – stative (has optional by agent)

10. Exercise 1 Is surrounded – stative Is considered – reporting
Are known – reporting
Was said – reporting
Is composed of – stative
Are assumed – reporting

11. Exercise 2 Owned – active voice
Claimed – reporting passive (It + be + p.p.)
Found – active voice
Were said – reporting passive (infinitive)
Was composed of –stative passive
Are also thought – reporting passive (infinitive)
Are alleged – reporting passive (infinitive)
Are located – stative passive
Said – active voice
Are known – stative passive

12. Exercise 3 Is believed – simple present, “today”
Is said – simple present, “today”
Is not known – simple present, “are”
Is now assumed – simple present, “now”
Was also thought – simple past, “was”
Are now believed – simple present, “now”
Is claimed – simple present
Is known – simple present, known today not in the past

13. Exercise 3 Was conjectured – simple past, “had been established”
Is/was known – simple present or simple past, most would assume simple present because of “have been popular”
Is/was thought - simple present or simple past, most would assume simple present because of “have played”
Can safely be assumed – modal, adverb comes after modal

14. Exercise 4 Is believed – simple present, “is”
Was previously thought – simple past, “previously,” adverb goes after Be verb
Is understood – simple present, “are”
Is well known – simple present, “now” or “is,” adverb goes after Be verb
Might be perceived – modal
Is widely confirmed – simple present, “let,” adverb goes after Be verb
Has been well established – present perfect, “has”
Are known – simple present, “am”
Has been considered – present perfect, “has”
Can be assumed – modal